Map Name: Devastation on its Way
Creator: DoubleBET
Email: immorph@hotmail.com
Released: September, 2004
Players: 2-8

Map Made For: C&C Generals: Zero Hour ONLY
File Size: 111 KB (Map Folder)
Terrain: Urban/Desert
Size: Large
Resources: Moderate (Average amount near start locations, large amount in the city)

Description: 

	This map is the ultimate in building-crashing, tower-smashing warfare.  The map is divided down the center by a large Middle-Eastern city, which is located atop steep cliffs with only three access routes on either side.  With a surplus of supply crates and tech buildings situated in the heart of this dusty metropolis, he who controls the city will almost inevitably dominate the battlefield.
	I worked very hard on this map to provide players with numerous strategic opportunities.  Despite all the advantages that the city provides, trying to remain in control can be quite difficult.  The city is littered with countless low-armored towers which, when destroyed, can collapse and single-handedly take down several buildings as well as anything else in its path (such as passing tank division, perhaps?).  If a tower is fired upon from the correct angle, one can actually cause a devastating domino-effect of falling towers.  (I know, maybe not that realistic, but come on, falling towers are so much fun!)  In addition to these unstable spires, other buildings are also carefully placed to provide players with certain tactical advantages (I won't give anything away here; play the level and discover them yourself!).
	If all else fails and the enemy keeps pushing you back farther and farther, I set aside a small region of the map on each side of the city where players can make a "last stand."  Here, rivers provide only a small bottleneck for incoming ground forces to pass through.  As long as you have some spare funds, who knows how much havoc your remaining forces can wreak!  Just be careful about building too close to those structures with the radiation symbols on the sides...
	I payed a lot of attention to artistic detail when I created this map.  See if you can envision the purpose behind each aesthetic feature; try to picture the struggle U.N. forces are going through as they fight to remain in control of this hostile region.

Installation Directions:

Place the "Devastation on its Way" folder in the following location upon unzipping:
My Documents -> Command And Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data -> Maps
...and enjoy!

Other Notes:
- Don't expect large numbers of tanks to win this game for you!  The thin urban alleyways essentially require your tanks to drive single-file.  Infantry are much more effective.  If you're looking for a city map with more wide-open areas, check out my first map, "Leave No Man Behind".  Here are two links to it.  If for some reason neither of these work, search for it on Google and you can probably find other sites that have it:

http://www.cncnz.com/files/generals/maps_featured3.shtml#leave
http://commandandconquer.filefront.com/file.info?ID=17382

- Since the success of this map relies heavily on teams starting at opposite ends of the city, it might be wise to upload the map to some players before actually playing it.  Then start the game a second time so that people who previously did not have the map can choose their start location.  Generally teams with random start locations will automatically be placed next to each other, but not always...
- This map is not skirmish-compatible.  I tried to get the AI to work but there's little-to-no hope that anyone could get it to efficiently navigate through the city.  Sorry!
- I included a script that APPEARS (from play experience) to significantly reduce lag and tech errors without affecting gameplay at all at the default game speed.  If anybody's an expert in scripting, check out my "Lag Fix" script and let me know if it really works.  It certainly seems to, but I'd like to know for sure for future reference.
- For some reason, when transferring this map to others via Generals Online, people have often complained that the map intro strings are "MISSING:".  I'm no scripting novice; I've created other maps, and I think I have done everything right.  Plus, when transferring a map online it displays properly on my screen.  I minimized the problem by giving each string the exact same name and body text (look at my scripting job to better understand), but the fact that many people see "MISSING:" in front of the text still annoys me to no end.  If anybody has any suggestions, e-mail me!


Happy Fragging...
-Eric Weber, AKA DoubleBET


And just as quick reality-check:  If things aren't going your way, do you really think that starting an unneeded argument with the other player will reduce your frustration?  Besides, badmouthing others only gives them greater satisfaction that they've beaten you.  IT'S ONLY A GAME, so let's keep it that way and make it more fun for everyone.  No fighting on the battlefield  :-)





"When I go home people ask me, 'Hey Hoot, why do you do it man?  Why?  You some kind of war junkie?'  I won't say a goddam word.  Why?  They won't understand.  They won't understand why we do it.  They won't understand, it's about the men next to you.  And that's it.  That's all it is."
- Hoot, Black Hawk Down